The latest statements of PM Gilani and FM Qureshi supporting Pak-US strategic relationship

reflect flawed foreign policy. The recent global developments show that a New World Order
(NOW) has emerged that is based on respect for international laws, climate change and
independent economic policies. Pakistan therefore has to review its foreign policy to protect its
national interests and avoid international isolation. International laws and sovereignty of nation
states have become guiding principles of national foreign policies. Beijing refused visa to Indian
general posted in (Indian) held Kashmir because China treats Kashmir as disputed region under
UN Resolutions (Setback to Sino-Indian Ties, The Arab News, August 28). US Secretary Defense
was refused visa by Beijing because Washington failed to scrap $6 bn defense deal with Taiwan
and to show the world that there will be no compromise on one-China policy and national
sovereignty. Norwegian government banned Israeli companies from doing business in Norway
due to its settlements in Palestinian territories. Norwegian Finance Minister Sigbjoern Johnsen
said the ban was implemented because settlements violate several UNSC Resolutions, ICJ
advisory opinion and the Geneva Convention. Norway also sold its shares in two companies
because they were manufacturing weapons that are considered inhumane.

PPP’s foreign policy and State of Pakistan. PPP government is supporting Pak-US strategic
relationship despite the fact that US is being internationally condemned and isolated for its anti-
terror war being waged to protect trade interests. America is undermining international laws,
human rights and sovereignty of independent states. The cases in point are illegal Iraq and
Afghan wars, extrajudicial killings and violating state sovereignties. US has failed to keep India
and Israel from committing crimes against humanity in Kashmir and Palestine. PPP government
has failed to ratify Cluster Munitions Treaty and UN Human Rights Treaty. By entertaining leaders
involved in war crimes and crimes against humanity, PPP government has let down humanity and
national interests. ICC and international human rights watch groups have condemned denial of
justice to missing persons, use of illegal mercenary forces in war zones and extra-judicial killings
with drones. Pakistan is a member of UN therefore it has to respect international laws, human
rights and protect state sovereignty.

Climate Change is another important element of nation foreign policies. Norway has barred
companies that fail to uphold global environmental pollution laws. China as part of National
Energy Policy has decommissioned 2000 major industrial units including steel mills to replace
them with energy efficient models and adopt “Green” ISO certification that is going to be
mandatory for international export. Climate change is the battle ground between fossil fuel based
western energy mafia and emerging alternate energy group in Asia, which is following UN Clean
Energy Laws. Country’s textile sector will lose its export quota if it fails to meet international laws.
Pakistan has to change its foreign policy to adopting alternate energy to meet international
obligations, eradicate power outages, utility services related social unrests, provide clean drinking
water (international human right) and reduce poverty by 20-35 percent.

Forestation has become important part of foreign policy. Norway banned Malaysian Forestry
Company due to “extensive and repeated breaches” of regulations of its activities. The August
monsoon floods have shown the adverse effects of illegal deforestation. Without adopting
national policy and getting rid of timber mafia, Pakistan cannot recoup and expands its forests to
fulfill local needs and international obligations. The UN Environmental Agency has different
programs including aerial disbursement of mud-covered seeds, which sprout after rains. By using
this technique, Pakistan can use the floods and mud to turn Pakistan greener, cleaner and safer.

Economic policy, social welfare state and foreign policy. The continuation of capitalist based
economy has pushed 90 percent Pakistanis to live below two dollars a day, accumulation of
wealth in fewer hands and culture of contract jobs with low wages and little or no retirement
benefits. Capitalism based “ to cut cost” privatization programs of Pakistan violate Quaid-e-
Azam’s vision and constitutional obligation of a social welfare state in which state not citizen is
responsible for health, education and financial wellbeing of individuals. West is using privatization
in Pakistan to serve its vested geo-strategic needs. The capitalist based financial system has
weakened country’s economy, increased inflation and prices. The disparity in national pay scale
and reduction of bureaucratic control in governance has weakened state, increased corruption
and poverty. PPP government therefore has to clarify its stand with capitalist block vis-à-vis
Quaid’s vision of welfare state, public welfare and State of Pakistan.

State, CoD and foreign policy. Under the garb of west brokered CoD, both PPP and PML (N) are
supporting two party system to take turns to continue ruling Pakistan indefinitely. West’s
cultivation of relations with both parties and fixed term under the pretext of “continuation of policy”
are self-explanatory. The hung parliament in Australia, the failed democracy in UK and stalled
presidential form of democracy in US shows the failures of two-party system.

The peddling of CoD and two-party system is treason against State. It undermines constitution,
which envisages a parliamentary form of government with provision of no confidence vote as
democratic check against the Doctrine of Necessity. Pakistan will have to adopt independent
foreign policy to have true parliamentary form of government and avoid martial laws. The
extension of 35 adhoc-judges tenure for want of policy has shown that doctrine of necessity is not
history and it can always be used to protect state, national interests and constitution from
government of the day. Foreign policy, judiciary and 18th amendment. Judiciary is part of state
not government and it is an equal power in a democracy. In a democracy, lawmakers make laws,
executive executes laws and judiciary interprets and trashes laws that violate country’s
constitution. The proposed judicial commission under 18th Amendment makes judiciary
subservient to lawmakers, which undermines powers of state to hold government of the day
accountable. Constitution protects independence of judiciary by linking it with dissolution of
government. Therefore, provision of judicial commission should be trashed to save judiciary from
politicization on lines of police, corruption and political harassment. Otherwise, Legal experts of
the view that National Assembly is not a constitutional parliament therefore it cannot change the
fundamental of the Constitution.

Foreign policy, judiciary and so-called anti-terror war. It is opined that as part of CoD, judiciary is
being made subservient to parliament to avoid issuance of arrest warrants of western political and
military leaders involved in war crimes and crimes against humanity. Due to issuance of arrest
warrant of ex-FM Tzipi Livni for alleged Gaza war crimes by a British magistrate, Britain pledged
to reform the peculiar legal power that lets judges’ order the arrest of visiting politicians and
generals that might be invoked against Barack Obama or Vladimir Putin
http://www.haaretz.com/news/israel-confirms-u-k-arrest-warrant-against-livni-1.2133. It is equally
true for anti-terror laws vis-à-vis constitutional and civil liberties. Pakistan therefore has to end its
support for anti-terror war and strengthen judiciary.

Foreign policy, armed forces and doctrine of necessity. As part of checks and balance in
parliamentary form of democracy, armed forces, Para-military forces, federal bureaucracy
including police should be kept under president and governors. PM and CM should be given
control of provincial security forces, provincial bureaucracy, civil peacekeeping forces like scouts
and fire brigade. Only, state gets to decide who runs the country. Thus, Pakistan needs to change
its foreign policy to protect national interests, uphold international laws and human rights so that it
can regain its true stature in international community.